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Govt announces consultation on video game ratings

31/07/2008

The ease with which youngsters can buy violent video games could soon change after the government announced a new public consultation on age-limits.

Popular games such as Grand Theft Auto have been widely criticised in the media for their violent content and potentially-damaging influence on Britain's youth, with the current ratings system seen as providing an insufficient barrier to the purchase of unsuitable games.

After clinical psychologist Dr Tanya Byron carried out an independent review of the classification system earlier this year, the government accepted her recommendation to give computer and video games released in the UK age ratings similar to current film classifications.

As it stands, the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) can impose legally enforceable age limits on games that depict violence or sexual behaviour while all other games are classified under the entirely-voluntary ratings system of Pegi (Pan-European Game Information).

But culture minister Margaret Hodge has today announced a public consultation to consider changes to the classification system for computer and video games.

The options for a new ratings approach include a hybrid of the BBFC and Pegi systems, standalone BBFC or Pegi ratings but with increased legal power or a continuation of the current system, but with a new, stricter code of practice introduced for retailers.

"The current system of classification comes from a time when video games were in their infancy," said Ms Hodge.

"In recent years there have been extraordinary developments in technology, with increasingly realistic gameplay and highly evolved storylines. At the same time more and more games are now accessed online."

She added: "We have also seen a big growth in games aimed at a grown-up market, which invariably include scenes unsuitable for young people. The games market has simply outgrown the classification system, so today we are consulting on options that will make games classification useful and relevant again."

The game Manhunt 2 was banned by the BBFC last year when it refused to award a certificate to the game, which it deemed too violent.

The game's producers have since won the right to sell the game in Britain with an 18 plus certificate following a successful high court appeal.